It appears I spoke too early - about the silence of Academy
In my previous post, I lamented the deafening lack of criticism from Academy of the President Twitchy Administration. I actually then took off to the gym to let off some steam. While there, I wondered how I would word a letter I conceived to be directed at the American people about Dubya and his cohorts, and what they have accomplished. And then viola, i just got back- and decided to quickly visit alternet.org before resuming my research activitites when in their "News Log" section they have a headline "Harvard to Bush:You are Failing." Amen.
This is in reference to an Open Letter to President Dubya, written by Harvard University professors of economincs and business.
They write,
"we are concerned that U.S. economic policy has taken a dangerous turn under your stewardship. Nearly every major economic indicator has deteriorated since you took office in January 2001. Real GDP growth during your term is the lowest of any presidential term in recent memory. Total non-farm employment has contracted and the unemployment rate has increased. Bankruptcies are up sharply, as is our dependence on foreign capital to finance an exploding current account deficit. All three major stock indexes are lower now than at the time of your inauguration. The percentage of Americans in poverty has increased, real median income has declined, and income inequality has grown."
The letter then coolly goes into the deficiencies of this administrations fiscal policy: slash taxes broadly for the rich, and spend, spend, spend. Result: insane, insane deficits - that crowd out private investment, drive interest rates higher and stoke inflationary expectations. They call for a "dramatic reorientaion of fiscal policy, including substantial reversals of your tax policy. "
They add,
"We also urge you to consider the distributional consequences of your policies. Under your administration, the income gap between the most affluent Americans and everyone else has widened. Although the latest data reveal that real household incomes have dropped across the board since you took office, low and middle income households have experienced steeper declines than upper income households. To be sure, the general phenomenon of mounting inequality preceded your administration, but it has continued (and, by some accounts, intensified) over the past three and a half years."
They usefully point out that the Gini coefficient - a measure of income distribution- "is far higher in the United States than in any other developed country and is continuing to move upward." Amen, Amen, Amen. why the fuck to low-mid income, rural people support Twitchy
I have at various periods of my life been forced to read research published by these men and women, and absolutely nothing they have written, singularly, is more socially relevant than what they have written here - IMO.
Actually, alternet.org is incorrect in characterizing this as a Harvard Business School endeavor, this open letter was written by an 'organized" medley of professors from across the country, which in my opinion makes it more potent.
Personally, I would have addressed the American people, Dubya doesn't read. I also think you'd get more media mileage by addressing the public, not withstanding the risks of being labelled partisan. But it is a start, a very good start.
These are people whose work requires them to pay attention to detail, use multiple sources of evidence, distinguish between fact and opinion, understand causality (cause-effect) and the direction of that causality. But moreover, these are people whose work is primarily designed to contribute to the public good. For better of for worse, these are poeple who are paid to pay attention to these matters, rather reality TV and celebrity comings and goings. They should speak louder and more often .
How many times do I have to tell people George Bush is bad for the United States. I told a friend of mine, I would leave if he were reelected, and he said, "oh come on, would it make that much difference?" Besides, the bleeding obvious, it would make a difference to me, I am appalled and I spend a lot of time being appalled. Sending Twitchy to Texas would make me a lot more productive, or at least get me more sleep.
This is in reference to an Open Letter to President Dubya, written by Harvard University professors of economincs and business.
They write,
"we are concerned that U.S. economic policy has taken a dangerous turn under your stewardship. Nearly every major economic indicator has deteriorated since you took office in January 2001. Real GDP growth during your term is the lowest of any presidential term in recent memory. Total non-farm employment has contracted and the unemployment rate has increased. Bankruptcies are up sharply, as is our dependence on foreign capital to finance an exploding current account deficit. All three major stock indexes are lower now than at the time of your inauguration. The percentage of Americans in poverty has increased, real median income has declined, and income inequality has grown."
The letter then coolly goes into the deficiencies of this administrations fiscal policy: slash taxes broadly for the rich, and spend, spend, spend. Result: insane, insane deficits - that crowd out private investment, drive interest rates higher and stoke inflationary expectations. They call for a "dramatic reorientaion of fiscal policy, including substantial reversals of your tax policy. "
They add,
"We also urge you to consider the distributional consequences of your policies. Under your administration, the income gap between the most affluent Americans and everyone else has widened. Although the latest data reveal that real household incomes have dropped across the board since you took office, low and middle income households have experienced steeper declines than upper income households. To be sure, the general phenomenon of mounting inequality preceded your administration, but it has continued (and, by some accounts, intensified) over the past three and a half years."
They usefully point out that the Gini coefficient - a measure of income distribution- "is far higher in the United States than in any other developed country and is continuing to move upward." Amen, Amen, Amen. why the fuck to low-mid income, rural people support Twitchy
I have at various periods of my life been forced to read research published by these men and women, and absolutely nothing they have written, singularly, is more socially relevant than what they have written here - IMO.
Actually, alternet.org is incorrect in characterizing this as a Harvard Business School endeavor, this open letter was written by an 'organized" medley of professors from across the country, which in my opinion makes it more potent.
Personally, I would have addressed the American people, Dubya doesn't read. I also think you'd get more media mileage by addressing the public, not withstanding the risks of being labelled partisan. But it is a start, a very good start.
These are people whose work requires them to pay attention to detail, use multiple sources of evidence, distinguish between fact and opinion, understand causality (cause-effect) and the direction of that causality. But moreover, these are people whose work is primarily designed to contribute to the public good. For better of for worse, these are poeple who are paid to pay attention to these matters, rather reality TV and celebrity comings and goings. They should speak louder and more often .
How many times do I have to tell people George Bush is bad for the United States. I told a friend of mine, I would leave if he were reelected, and he said, "oh come on, would it make that much difference?" Besides, the bleeding obvious, it would make a difference to me, I am appalled and I spend a lot of time being appalled. Sending Twitchy to Texas would make me a lot more productive, or at least get me more sleep.
posted by knikik at 1:09 AM
<< Home